{"id":318087,"date":"2018-12-20T09:08:55","date_gmt":"2018-12-20T14:08:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=318087"},"modified":"2018-12-20T09:08:55","modified_gmt":"2018-12-20T14:08:55","slug":"preview-fantasy-premier-league-gameweek-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2018\/12\/20\/preview-fantasy-premier-league-gameweek-18\/","title":{"rendered":"Preview: Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 18"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>With four gameweeks in the next couple of weeks, having a strong FPL squad has never been more important. This article tries to help you build your squad for this fixture congestion with Gameweek\u00a018 in mind.<\/p>\n<h1>Preview: Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 18<\/h1>\n<p>With so many games having to be played, almost every player is susceptible to rotation. <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/feeds\/manchestercityfootball-co\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Manchester City<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/feeds\/arsenalfootball-co\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Arsenal<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/feeds\/chelseafootball-co\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chelsea<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/clubs\/leicester-city\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Leicester City<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/clubs\/bournemouth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bournemouth<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/feeds\/tottenhamfootball-co\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Spurs<\/a> all played in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals midweek so expect some rotations there.<\/p>\n<h2>Captaincy Picks<\/h2>\n<p>On paper, <a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/b400bde0\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Raheem Sterling<\/a> is the best captaincy pick this week. City, at home to <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/clubs\/crystal-palace\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Crystal Palace<\/a>, should win quite easily. With <a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/4d034881\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sergio Aguero<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/e46012d4\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kevin De Bruyne<\/a> back, Pep Guardiola now has more options to choose from and it could be a difficult time for the Eagles at the Etihad stadium. Sterling came off the bench to play around 24 minutes against Leicester so it is likely that he will start ahead of <a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/892d5bb1\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Riyad Mahrez<\/a>. The Algerian played the full 90 minutes against his former side.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/2b114be3\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Leroy San\u00e9<\/a> was not even in the squad so if you own him, he could be your captain as well. The young German scored ten points in 65 minutes against Everton.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/a39bb753\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Eden Hazard<\/a> is in superb form and with a home game against Leicester, he is a strong candidate for the armband this week. Hazard scored against <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/clubs\/brighton-hove-albion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brighton<\/a> last week and came off the bench to score the winner against Bournemouth on Wednesday night. Chelsea are nowhere near as free-scoring as City though and Leicester won&#8217;t be easy opponents.<\/p>\n<h2>Other Top Contenders<\/h2>\n<p>After going 22 matches without a defeat, Arsenal now have lost back-to-back games. Unai Emery&#8217;s side have a lot of injuries, especially at the back, and their attacking play has suffered as well. <a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/f874dd44\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">H\u00e9ctor Beller\u00edn<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/3935e52e\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sead Kolasinac<\/a> were instrumental in the Gunners&#8217; great run and their rampaging runs down the flanks helped the likes of <a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/d5dd5f1f\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang<\/a> and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/9dbb75ca\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alexandre Lacazette<\/a> score goals. Emery has played <a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/e61b8aee\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Granit Xhaka<\/a> at the back recently which has impacted the midfield greatly as well. On paper, Arsenal have an easy looking fixture against <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/clubs\/burnley\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Burnley<\/a> but one should exercise caution before choosing to captain one of the Arsenal attackers. It may not be as straight-forward.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/21a66f6a\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Harry Kane<\/a> could be a good captaincy pick this week. Spurs are in good form and one would put them as favourites to get all three points at Goodison Park. <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/clubs\/everton\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Everton<\/a> conceded two at home to <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/clubs\/watford\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Watford<\/a> last time out so this could be a decent opportunity for Kane to score well.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/e342ad68\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mohamed Salah<\/a> had a poor record away from home before hitting a brilliant hat-trick against Bournemouth. He has a tough away fixture at <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/clubs\/wolves-club-analysis-news-fixtures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Wolves<\/a> this week but who could bet against the Egyptian scoring a couple past <a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/79b0d6a0\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rui Patricio<\/a> this week.<\/p>\n<h2>Differentials to Consider<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/clubs\/west-ham\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">West Ham<\/a>&#8216;s attackers have been quite superb in recent weeks.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/9f1893b9\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Felipe Anderson<\/a> has been pretty amazing for the Hammers this season but\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/9f4647e9\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Robert Snodgrass<\/a> has been a huge surprise in the last few weeks. They face Watford at home. This could be a high-scoring encounter with the Hornets\u00a0also adding to the attacking flavour.<\/p>\n<p>With Aguero just returning from injury, <a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/b66315ae\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gabriel Jesus<\/a> might get a start this week. He scored twice last week and only played around 15 minutes midweek so he could be considered.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/clubs\/newcastle-united\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Newcastle<\/a> might nick a 1-0 win at home to <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/clubs\/fulham\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Fulham<\/a> so one could consider their defensive assets this week.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/758dd7f0\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Javier Manquillo<\/a> could be a nice and cheap option.<\/p>\n<h2>Top Picks<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/b400bde0\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Raheem Sterling<\/a> (11.6)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/2b114be3\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Leroy San\u00e9<\/a> (9.7)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/a39bb753\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Eden Hazard<\/a> (11.0)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/d5dd5f1f\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang<\/a> (11.5)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/21a66f6a\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Harry Kane<\/a> (12.6)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/e342ad68\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mohamed Salah<\/a> (13.1)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/9f1893b9\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Felipe Anderson<\/a> (7.4)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/758dd7f0\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Javier Manquillo<\/a> (4.3)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/9f4647e9\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Robert Snodgrass<\/a> (5.4)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fbref.com\/en\/players\/9dbb75ca\/?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alexandre Lacazette<\/a> (9.6)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"a7mJHMP4RM9AD9f-VwvL9g\" class=\"gie-single\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.co.uk\/detail\/1073591228\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'a7mJHMP4RM9AD9f-VwvL9g',sig:'V7A5dxu_SqcXumVzW1gdIHQWXxbchIcDbxY45cOWYSk=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1073591228',caption: true ,tld:'co.uk',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With four gameweeks in the next couple of weeks, having a strong FPL squad has never been more important. This article tries to help you build your squad for this fixture congestion with Gameweek\u00a018 in mind. Preview: Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 18 With so many games having to be played, almost every player is susceptible [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2794,"featured_media":318495,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[1395,3009,2811,2911,3007,40],"class_list":["post-318087","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-premier-league","tag-fantasy-football","tag-fantasy-premier-league","tag-fpl","tag-fpl-captain","tag-fpl-picks","tag-premier-league"],"modified_by":"Nat Goodlad, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/318087","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2794"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=318087"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/318087\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/318495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=318087"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=318087"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=318087"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}